A single mother who lives on one meal a day and has been hospitalised twice for malnutrition says that the inflation rate will be catastrophic for her family — and she might have to start begging.
Kelly Thomson, 43, lives on £40 per week to feed herself and her two children — and said inflation hikes have already hit her struggling family.
Although Ms Thomson’s universal credit covers her £1,300 monthly rent and a few other costs, she says she has just £160 a month left for all other bills.
Slough, Berkshire-based mother-of-2 said rising food prices make it almost impossible for her and her two children to eat.
Because she only eats one meal per day, she has lost 2 stone. She was then forced to give her birthday gift to Cash Converters in order to make money to buy food.
Kelly Thomson, 43, lives on £40 per week to feed herself and her two children. Pictured here with her 11 year old daughter.
Twice she has ended up in hospital suffering with malnutrition, she said — even needing blood transfusions to replenish her depleted iron levels because she cannot afford fresh food.
The new Office for National Statistics data today reveal that the UK’s inflation rate stands at 10.1%.
And new figures revealed that everyday food items have soared in price by as much as 34 per cent, laying bare the true cost of inflation as it reached another 40-year-high today.
Ms. Thomson has two children, a 14-year-old son and a 11 year old daughter.
“The cost of living has risen to a ridiculous level and I have no idea what I will do. Our resources are limited. It’s clear to me that I will have to go to the streets to get help.
“It is worse than it has ever been.” The new rate of inflation makes me feel sick.
Slough, Berkshire – A mother of two from Slough said that increasing food prices made it almost impossible for her and her son (14), to eat as well.
Everything is more expensive each time I visit the shop, and I cannot bear to stare at the gasmeter.
“I have thoughts of stealing, but it is too much to bear thinking about what will happen to my children if that happens.”
New stats reveal the headline CPI rate reached 10.1 per cent in July – well above analysts’ predictions of 9.8 per cent. The increase was due largely to higher fuel prices and increased food prices.
This is the highest level of inflation since February 1982 when it was 10.4 percent. It comes in the midst of a crisis in cost-of living that has seen prices rise on everything, from packages holidays to food and drink to toothbrushes.
According to latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics, a slew of grocery items has outpaced inflation. The average cost of low-fat milk increased by 34% over the last 12 months.
According to latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics, a slew of grocery items has outperformed the inflation rate. The average cost of low-fat milk increased by 34% over the last 12 months.
The list also included dairy products, including whole milk, butter, and cheese. Butter grew by 28.1 percent, 27.1 percent, and 17% respectively.
Other necessities such as eggs, olive oil and jam rose by 23.6 percent, 21.2 percentage and 14.6 percentage, respectively.
According to the ONS, there were also sharp rises for poultry (6.1%), fish (13.4%) and snacks (13.4%)
Grant Fitzner (ONS Chief Economist) stated that the price of food rose by a variety of factors. Higher takeaway prices were also caused by rising food prices, especially for bakery goods, milk, vegetables and dairy products.
Inflation in July was also driven by price increases in staples like pet food, toothpastes, and deodorants.
In July, the headline CPI rate was 10.1%. This is well ahead of analysts’ expectations of 9.8%. The CPI rate was 9.4 percentage points higher than the month before.
“The price of raw materials as well as goods that leave factories increased due to the rising cost of food and metals.
This comes at a time when experts believe the current inflation rate may be crushed later in the year. The Bank of England anticipates that it will top 13%.
This latest rise, along with yesterday’s relatively strong jobs market numbers will fuel speculation that the Bank might raise interest rates next month.
This could reduce the price of goods, but it would be a burden on Britons as well, since wages are far behind.
Thomson claimed that Thomson is apathetic and cries over her situation every day.
She said, “It’s becoming worse, and I feel so trapped. It’s like I’m being suffocating, and there’s nothing that I can do.”
‘It feels like everything is spiralling out of control — we need someone to step in and help the people that need it.’
Thomson explained that Ms Thomson’s children witnessed me collapsing in June. “I have never felt so afraid in my entire life, and it must have had a terrible impact on their mental well-being.”
RocioConcha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, commented: “These figures highlight the magnitude of the cost-of living crisis and show that millions will be in a difficult financial position over the next months.
“With rising bills, it is clear that current levels of government cost-of living assistance will not suffice.
“Ministers should now act quickly to improve the support available to those in need. Businesses that are essential, like telecoms and energy, should also make every effort to ensure customers get a great deal and additional support when they are needed.
Since December 2020 when Ms Thomson contracted long Covid, she has struggled to make ends meet. She was also fired from her position as cleaner.
According to her, during winter she would go without electricity and light the house with candles because it was too expensive to pay for the bills.
She told Slough Observer that she was wearing a long-sleeve shirt, vest, and a dress with tights, and under her jeans, and was dressed in a dressing gown.
“We had tights underneath our pyjamas.”
They cuddled up in bed together at night to keep warm — with the family relying on neighbours to heat up food.
Ms Thomson took her family television and the smart TV her daughter was gifted for her birthday, in desperate need of money to purchase food.
Thomson spends all of her money on food. She also buys food bank supplies to make sure that she has enough food for herself and her family.
While she serves breakfast for the children and lunch is provided by school, she says that the best way to eat each day is sharing an evening meal with the kids.
Lidl allows her to shop for food and find bargains that she can store in the freezer.
Thomson lost 2 stone in January 2021 and now her 12 size clothes are three sizes too large.
Thomson shared that Ms Thomson was lucky if she gets a meal every day. Every morning I get up and do what I must, because it is my duty to my children.
Inflation has been rising due to higher fuel costs.
‘I’m so scared and I cry every single day. I feel so scared that I might lose my mind. But I used to be such an optimistic person.
“I am worried about my health. I feel weak and hungry all the time. After fighting and fighting, I have no idea what I should do.
‘In June, my children watched me collapse. “I’ve never felt so afraid in my entire life. The impact it had on their mental health is unimaginable.”
‘I’m not asking for luxury. Just to be able pay the bills and eat. She told Slough Observer that she doesn’t understand what is happening in England.
She spent almost half her income in May on the prepayment energy meter before the recent price caps were announced.
The family of Ms. Thomson is now in fuel poverty. This refers to energy costs exceeding 10% of household income.
The energy price cap – which regulates what more than 20million households pay for their gas and electricity – is due to rise again in October.
The cap is set to hit around £3,635 according to the latest predictions. This would represent an 84% increase over today’s record-breaking price cap.
According to the Guardian, new research by the University of York has shown that fuel poverty will affect two-thirds of UK households by January.
When the money runs out, Ms Thomson’s family are left without hot water, heating and electricity — unable to cook until they top-up.
The fridge and freezer also go out. A neighbour will store food for them.
Sometimes they help to feed the family.
She stated that the bills were too high for her family and that it would be impossible to survive the winter without gas or electricity.
Slough Observer: “I am already too thin,” she said. “The doctor told me that I was underweight, and it could be due to stress or lack of nutrition.
Thomson claimed that she is feeling trapped and needs to get out of her house.
She encouraged the government to step in to help those most in need — before they have any more ‘deaths on their hands’.
Ms Thomson stated that it was “terrible.” Truth is that everyone suffers while people in power have fun. These people need to make a change.
She claimed that the government was “taking from the poor in order to feed them”, with Brits being left’starving’ and money being ‘wasted.